Explaining web development or web design to non-designers can be a really difficult process, but we have to deal with it on a daily basis no matter if you work for a company or as freelancer. Understanding PSD to CMS is not that simple either, which is why we have put together some simple answers to the most common questions of all.

What does a web developer do?

Clients normally believe you are a designer too, so that must be the first clarification to make.

A Web developer builds a Web presence from the bottom up, fashioning everything from the home page to site layout and function to convert PSD to HTML/CSS. A good Web developer takes into account the client’s products or services along with the target market to create a website that will have specific HTML to CSS worth pixel perfect.

Like any human being, websites have bodies too. It divides into HTML5 codes that function as a bone structure and CSS3 codes that work as the skin. Also PSD to HTML5/CSS3 should look great and remain fully functional regardless of the Web browser being used to view the site.

Easy navigation is a key element in any high-traffic website. That is why Flash is Evil. Few things are more frustrating to visitors than sites that are laid out illogically. Implementing a visually appealing webscape that is user-friendly along with an effective search engine is one way the Web developer ensures viewers will enjoy their visit and quickly get to products of interest. That way you will get more traffic.

As humans have different languages, so does the Internet. Various scripting languages exist in which to create surveys, contests, and sales mechanisms for e-Commerce like what we do on PSD to Magento in order to securely transfer information between visitors and the website. A Web developer takes all of this into consideration.

What does a web designer do?

Your client may think a web designer draws pretty pictures on the web. Once a design is supplied to your client, chances are they will cast their opinion over said design and expect changes to be made at no extra cost and in next to no time.

Why is that? Because they believe this is already part of the price or it’s your fault, so you shouldn’t bill more for changes. You should always make sure of:

1. Meet the client and gather their requirements for the website. This meeting and subsequent meetings should involve discussions about what websites they like and why. At this time you have the opportunity to explain what it doesn’t work and why.

2. Give more than one design option to your client because they are going to merge them or destroy them but it would make your work easier to have more than one idea “on the table”.

In general, the goal is to create pages with a specific design, a uniform graphic set, and eye grabbing details. Depending upon the needs of the client, a web designer may also write content for pages, though sometimes they merely edit and program content that clients provide.

Degrees tend to be less important than demonstrating how awesome you are when a client is choosing a web designer/developer. Instead of viewing credentials, they evaluate the pages a person has created to see if the aesthetic value is close to what they want. Still, our advice is, if you don’t know a thing about web development or design, always ask for outsourcing services.

We really hope this short guide comes in handy for you when you need it, specially if you find yourself in the position of trying to explain what is it that you do to your neighbor, the butcher, the plumber and all those people that come to you thinking they might need a website done.